Before reading and hitting the upvote/downvote button, realize that I won't see those metrics as I removed those from my view with my adblocker. So, you'll have to use your words.
Now, I'm mainly doing this to clown on Kubo's script, but also challenge it in some way. It was just painful to watch the anime adaption of the manga; it's didn't make the plot any better. So, I am doing this mainly for regaining my sanity and to have fun. And because the TYBW arc had no substance at all along with having bad pacing, it's actually the perfect stage to do much more world building.
And after watching the Nier Automata anime adaption, I was charmed by it. It gave me a great idea to solve the inner workings of Kubo's bland and repetitive script.
Here's the long lowdown of story summary:
-------------------------
spoiler
I am going with the anime version of Nier Automata. At the end, 2B, 9S, and A2 end up in Ichigo's world. They (especially 2B and A2) outclass the Bleach characters in tactical capability; doesn't matter how strong Ichigo gets as he fights the exact same. This what I have planned for the TYBW arc rewrite (after I strip out tons of crap, where the focus is mainly Ichigo).
Anyway, I am using the androids as catalysts for Ichigo's character development as he's had basically none. And that is very evident in TYBW arc. So, the androids cut the bullshit of that disaster arc, with 2B and A2 wiping out Yhwach (as his BS plot armor won't do anything to them as they are not from Ichigo's reality; hence immunity). But also, the androids are not bound to things like reiatsu. They aren’t even organic. So, for obvious reasons, plot armour tricks like Aizen’s and Yhwach’s won’t work on them. Besides, I need to cut through Kubo’s nonsense and poor pacing one way or another.
I am not rewriting the Nier Automata Anime. By the end of the Nier Automata anime, with 2B and 9S awakening, I plan to have them later go to the desert meet up with A2. They are without purpose now. But eventually a hollow in the form of a machine with a white mask goes to attack them. They kill it. With it, the tear in the sky the machine came through swallows them whole. They find themselves in Ichigo's world right when Ichigo and his friends are fighting a horde of hollows; in which A2 and 2B take out the hollows not knowing exactly what they are fighting. But the hollows are slow and dimwitted. It's an easy fight for the androids. This is just before the Soul Reaper/Quincy war begins.
And this is were Ichigo's new found journey begins with them in his world where they outclass the Quincy army at every turn. Causing Yhwach to be a huge pushover compared to tactical combatants that are engineered to kill. And to make matters more interesting, the androids are veterans of war; as they survived their long war after the machine war ended. So, they will come with experience the Bleach cast simply won't have.
Then, after the TYBW arc that I alter with the androids, they start (mainly 9S because of his curious personality; 2B thinks it's practical and A2 just rolls with it) trying to help Ichigo with his intimacy problems with Uryu; Ichigo's gay and may as well be in canon. So, by the time the YoRHa corpse arc (my own original arc) starts, the androids being blunt and logical, it will give him many embarrassing moments as they dissect and come to ‘logical solutions’ to assist him with his romance and sex life with Uryu, believing it would make him more grounded and efficient in combat. All for character development that he never had in canon.
So, there will be tons of comedic relief.
As that is happening, 2B, 9S and A2 are protecting Ichigo as hostile YoRHa corpses are attacking him at random, appearing out of nowhere. So, he needs to be surveilled. This further makes him realize that he has limitations and that he can't do the whole 'I must protect everyone' by himself shtick.
Ichigo starts gaining an identity. He begrudging accepts over time that he can't fight alone. Especially when 2B, 9S and A2 are what stand between him and the enemy (who all have terrifying precision in combat compared to the characters of Bleach).
Later in the story, because the reanimated YoRha corpses have been appearing in the Seireitei, Central 46 thinks the best solution would be to kill Ichigo, as they seem to appear around him. They deem him as a weapon past its usefulness. But the androids step in to protect Ichigo from those he was loyal to; Central 46 and Soi Fon. 2B also saying that if anyone from the Seireitei attempts to harm Ichigo again, that she, A2 and 9S will treat their elimination as a standard clean up operation; no different from handling machine lifeforms. That is a extreme turning point for Ichigo emotionally.
And later, a rift is opened at some point where Ichigo, Uryu, Orihime, Chad, Rukia, Renji and even Isshin are pulled into the world the androids came from after a battle with a group of hostile YoRha corpses. Essentially, they find out later on that the will of another was causing the YoRHa corpses to traverse dimensions to attack Ichigo. The reason? A plea for help; through the lingering essence of Nier, Yonah, and Kaine; their lingering will.
And it's all for Emil. Emil is cursed with eternity. So, when Ichigo, his friends, and the androids make it to the world the androids came from, they come face to face with Accord who tells them to follow the lunar tears (which sets up the path for the quest from the game).
Orihime also gets a character arc she deserves rather than being the Waifu Ichigo never had eyes for. She restores the androids and pacifist machine lifeforms (much later making her to be revered as a goddess in a sequel idea I have in mind).
Soon after, they meet Emil. And the events carry out like with the game's quest. But this is also for Ichigo's further character development. He is facing a mirror image of himself as he sees Emil trying to recover what he has lost because of wanting to protect everyone and the world.
This forces Ichigo to come to some harsh realities. That how he was going was going to be detrimental. Emil is a reflection of what he might become. Especially when Ichigo gets near a lunar tear, brief visions of Emil's struggles cloud his mind. When they first start searching for the lunar tears, Orihime also resurrects operator 21O; Isshin starts to take an interest in her because of what 9S said about her interest in families.
There will be more world building. Like for example, Ichigo having to gut a boar just so he and his friends could eat. And A2 watching him being the critic on their outing, while 2B and 9S use their pods to fish. Because after being the world full of humans where Ichigo is from, they come to realize that humans need to eat more than they assumed, and can't put it off like later maintenance. But this will also really challenge Ichigo as a character before the final act. Because he's forced to do something completely outside what he's used to.
Afterwards, when Emil races off to the desert, the androids track him. Then the fight begins with all of Emil's clones. After that, Ichigo offers Emil the only dignity he can; he uses Konso to free Emil from his cursed eternity. Finally, a brief hallucination for Ichigo causes him to see Nier, Yonah, Kaine and Emil standing beside each other. A gust of wind then causes the sands of the desert to camouflage them. And then, they are gone. Just like that. I know the Replicants don't have souls in the traditional sense. But what about their essence?
At the resistance camp, Ichigo's had his entire narrative of being the sole protector flipped upside down. He's now humbled. He feels rather than just being one tracked as Kubo made him out to be. And he's a better person for it. Also, Chad seems to have taken an interest in Lily, the leader of the resistance camp (I think he had a thing for tiny chicks anyways, so it makes sense in my head). With that, thanks to Accord assisting Urahara with the device to pass dimensions, Ichigo, his friends, and 2B, 9S and A2 along with 21O head to his world.
-------------------------
And this leads to a potential sequel that I had been having a huge laugh with. It will be more like a slice of life story.
The Nier Automata anime adaption couldn't have been more perfect for leaving Emil with just a cameo appearance.
The idea isn't completely fleshed out. There is a lot more to this; like what the androids get out of this story as well, just as much as Ichigo does. But I want to make sure I know where I am going this time. Rather than with my last fanfiction (where I just winged it and ended up with writer's block).
So, I've been building a detailed (albeit messy) mind map for the past year (gotta love open source applications like Freeplane).
Thoughts? Comments?
All spoilers must be tagged!